Le Petit Saint-Benoît

A 1901 bistro in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés

On little rue Saint-Benoît, a stone's throw from the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Le Petit Saint-Benoît has been feeding Parisians since 1901. Timeless cooking in an old-world setting: it is one of those bistros that seem to have crossed the century without losing their soul.

The writers' canteen

This was the neighbourhood of post-war intellectuals and jazz cellars, and Le Petit Saint-Benoît was one of their haunts: Marguerite Duras, who lived on the street and loved its terrace, as well as Boris Vian, Jean-Paul Sartre and Serge Gainsbourg were regulars.

What to order?

The menu stays true to French home cooking: beef bourguignon, shepherd's pie (hachis parmentier), cassoulet… Dishes full of memories, to share without ceremony.

How to get there from the Concortel?

Take Line 12 at Madeleine to Rue du Bac (4 stops), then walk about ten minutes along boulevard Saint-Germain (estimate). A lovely Left Bank evening ahead; to make it last, see Discover Paris.